Water-feed regulator.



No. 793,678. PATENTED JULY 4. 1905. T. G. RAKESTRAW.

WATER FEED REGULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED DBO.22, 1904.

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WZVQW $11 a gi 5 W @a YM NITED STATES Patented July 4, 1905.

PATENT QFFICE.

THOMAS G. RAKESTRAVV, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF TWO-TI-IlRDS TOFREDERICK H. BRANDT AND ELMER WELTON,

OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

WATER-FEED REGULATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 793,678, dated July 4,1905.

Application filed December 22,1904. Serial No. 237,895,

To It whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS G. RAKES'IRAW, a citizen of theUnited States,residing at Detroit, county of Wayne, State of Michigan, have invented acertain new and useful Improvement in ater-Feed Regulators forSteam-Boilers; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of thisspecification.

My invention relates to an improvement in water-feed regulators forsteam-boilers, shown in the accompanying drawing, and more particularlyset forth in the following specification and claims. Y

The drawing shows the water-column of a steam-boiler with my improvementconnected therewith by means of which the valve governing thesteam-supply to the pump or water to the boiler is controlled.

The object of my invention is to provide an apparatus which willautomatically govern the opening and closing of the valve controllingthe delivery of water to the boiler or the passage of steam through thesteam-pipe to operate the feed-pump.

Referring to the letters of reference shown in the drawing, A is thewater-column of a steam-boiler, provided with the usual gagecocks and agage-glass a.

B is a pipe leading from an opening midway between the upper and lowergage-cocks, being the one usually occupied by the center gage-cock.

B is an elbow from which rises an expansion-tube C, provided at the topwith a cap D, closing the end of the tube. Rising from the top of thecap D are cars (l, integral with the cap and forming bearings in whichaslotted lever E is pivoted. To the short arm of the lever E is engageda tie-rod F, its lower end engaging with an ear 6, preferably integralwith the elbow B. Engaging the long arm of the lever E is a rod G,provided with a turnbuckle G for adjustment, the other end of the rodengaging a bell-crank lever H, pivoted to an ear 7), formed integralwith and projecting from the elbow B. I is a link connection engagingthe other armof the bellcrank lever H and connected with the lever L,mounted on the stem of the steam or water valve K.

K is either a water or steam valve, as the case may be. I

L is a suitable relief-valve mounted in the cap at the top of theexpansion-tube.

Having set forth the several parts shown in the drawing, I will nowdescribe the operation of the apparatus.

When the water in the boiler drops below the level of the pipe B, steamfrom the boiler will enter the pipe and passing into the tube C cause itto expand, thereby raising the long arm of the lever E, the short armbeing held in a fixed position by the tie-rod F. By lifting the lever Ethe rod G, connecting the lever E with the bell-crank lever H, operatesthe latter and by its connection I with the lever J, controlling thesteam or water valve K, the valve K is operated and water is permittedto pass to the boiler or steam to the feed-pump to start the latter,thereby delivering water to the boiler.

When the water in the boiler. rises above the level of the pipe B, thesteam is cut off from the expansion-tube O and the tube contractingforces the bell-crank lever H down, which in turn by its connection withthe lever controlling the valve K cuts off the supply through thelatter, thereby automatically controlling the delivery of water to theboiler.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a water-feedregulator for steam-boilers, a pipe to be connected with the boiler on aline with its predetermined water-level, an expansion-tube risingtherefrom and a cap closing its upper end, a lever pivoted thereon,means for holding the short arm of the said lever in a fixed position, abell-crank lever suitably mounted, a rod connecting the free end of thefirst-named lever with one of the arms of the bell-crank lever, meansfor adjusting the length of the same, a valve controlling thewater-supply to the boiler, a rod connecting the other arm of thebell-crank lever with the lever governing said valve, and the levergov-- erning the valve, substantially as described.

2. In a water-feed regulator for steam-boilers, a water-column, ahorizontal pipe leading from the water-column on a line with thepredetermined Water-level of the boiler, an expansion-tube risingtherefrom, a cap closing the upper end of the expansion-tube, a slottedlever pivoted on said cap, means for holding the short arm of the leverin a fixed position, a bell-crank lever suitably mounted, an adjustablerod connecting the free end of the firstnamed lever with one of the armsof the bellcrank lever and the valve-lever, substantially as described.

3. In a water-feed regulator for steam-boilers, the water-column, ahorizontal pipe leading from the Water-column on a line with thepredetermined water-level of the boiler, an elbow having a screw-threadengagement with the end of the said pipe and provided with projectinglugs, an expansion-tube rising from the elbow, a cap closing the upperend of the eX- pansion-tube and provided with lugs forming a bearingfora lever pivoted thereon, a slotted lever pivoted in said lugs, arodconnecting the short arm of the lever with one of the lugs formed on theelbow, a bell-crank lever pivoted to the other lug formed on the elbow,an adjustable rod connecting the long arm of the lever mounted on theexpansion-tube with one of the arms of the bell-crank lever,avalvegoverning the Water-supply to the boiler, a lever for operatingsaid valve and link connection between said lever and the other arm ofthe bell-crank lever, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of twowitnesses.

THOMAS G. RAKESTRAW. Witnesses:

S. E. THOMAS, F. H. BRANDT.

